Flexible coupling



April Z1, 1925,

MCCLELLAN KRAFT FLEXIBLE 'COUPLING Filedlan. 25, 1922 2 Sheecs-Sheet 2 Patented Apr., 2l, MM5.

MCCLELLAN B. KRAFT., 0l? STRING GHQVE, PENNSYLVANIA.

FLEXIBLE eolienne.

Application filed animry To all whom, if, may concern."

lle it known th nt l, ldcCLi-:LLAN B. Knew,

n citizen of the United States, residing at Spring Grove, in the county ot York and Stifte of Pennsylvania, have invented nevi7 and useful improvements in Flexible Couu plings,i of which the following is n specification.

This invention relates to smoke condiic tors for locomotives. y

The particular objcctof this invention is to provide-n. universel, flexible, compressihle ind expansible coupling, which is substantially tight or smoke proof, durable, und

f wherein the construction-is reliitively cheep and simple.

This invention vill heinore fully-understood from the folio-Wing description, taken in connection with the accompanying diiivvings` forming :i part hereof, and in which similar numerals. refer to siniiliir ports throng-lient the several views.

Fig. l, represents e passenger trein. with i.

:i sniolre conductor, nd shows the adept ability oi the coupling which forms the subm ject inzitten of this invention.

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Fig. 2, is e longitudinal the eonpling. i

` fig. f ,I en end view oi Figi. 2

Figi. l, if' ydetail drawing; showing one irioiim. oit construction 'in which the coupling may be' connected to a. locomotive steek.,

y Referring to the drewings, l is e smoke conductor consistingoizi tube which runs the entice lengrtli of? the train and is divided into' sections 3, l, 8, andi); section o beingy secured` to the topv ofthe locomotive through the strnps i0, section 7 to the tender through sectional View of tlie'breclzets il., 'section 8 tothe top ot-tlie4 ceecli through the streps 12, anclsection Si heine; carried ley the smoke box ei The end ci each section of the anneke confine-tori is rovided 'with e coupling 9 the details `ci. Wi ich are fully shown in Fig. lllfie coiiplin 2, ie'i'nede ii oit sections lll, l5, It@ end il esicli of Whici are crimped to interlock with eachother es 'shown at 18 19,-end 20. The crimped joints 18, 19, en Qd one provided witlienough freedom or speen en shown et 21. to permit Heet/ ion in any direction. A j

' '.lflie springs QQ. normally hold the coupling in e straight line position ne shown in Fig.,v

2, through the flanges 43.'

es, ieee. semi no. sensei.

and 27 respectively7 and springs 28 are in terposed to normally hold the lionne in firm Contact with a corresponding' flange 5M: ol' another section. suoli :i llzinge being shown. in light broken lines Fig. Q. ji faceplate 9.9 is riveted to the flange 24 and siiosten.n tizilly forms a part thereof. v

A yoke tGis riveted to the inside oi" the tiihe 23 tliiouglithe' flanges 3l.; the object ci,z this yoke being' to {.{iiide or pilot the 'tubes ivliile they are limiting together and liold them iii true alignment with -ezicli other. l, will be observed in Fig.4 2 that these yolres enter the ioiittinfg tubes, the one shown in. full lines projectinginto the tribe shown in lightloroli'en linesfiirdtlie yoke showen light broken .lines projecting :into the tiibe shown in full lines. f'

The yoke' 30'is located centrally in til/.ie

tube es shown in fiill lines! Fig. 3. 'lilie yolie oi e corresponding tol/ie takes e porsi pling' in siilosteifitinlly true alignment.

It is apparent from the above description tlint the flexible couplings.,l shown in llig'. 5% k provides n joint between the verieiis sections oi the smoke conductor l, which vwill eceoin modate the opposite movement oi the ve.m rions units oif thetrein within the necesw sary limits. j

llorltlie best reeults it' is obvions *diet el the "couplings 9J should. be oi the proper effi lili

length sol that the joint `is mede directly over the coupling oi the trein units. laver instance, the joint, between the seetione 3' and El of the smoke conductor is niede di rectly 4over tlie coupling 533 between tender 34 end passenger coecli The condition should also exist. between theloco .motive 36 and thetendcr'.. y

The smoke box @i forms a, l connection between the locomotive steek 3'? end the smoke conductor l, and es shown in the drawing consists' principally of a, sojiei'e casing which opens into the'seetions o :ind 9 of the smoke conductor end the steelt 3i'.

When two loooniotsiwzsy ere employed te lie draw the ting the smoke conductor of the first locomotive connects with the coupling 2 at the end-` 19; the end of the tender of the `first looornotive'being shown in light broken lines at 50; l

It is obvious that any nuniber of coaches may be coupled to the train and the tubes of each individual coach will connect end yfor end7 thereby continuing the length of m' the smoke conductor l to the cnd of the train.

lends .ofeach spring being connected. to theI respective end ring shaped sections ot said series.

2. A flexible half coupling comprising a main tubular section7 a larger tube adapted to slide over said main tubular section, resilient Ineans normally holding Said .larger tube in a orwardposition relative to said inain tubular section, a flangelixed to said larger tube, and a smaller tube fixed to said flange and adapted to slide within said 'inain tubular'section.'

3. A flexible half coupling'coinprising a' flexible tubular section, a slidiable flange seotion, a'pilotin'g yoke protruding from said flangesection, and lugs carried by said flange which form a notch on each ,id ot said yoke of such depth and width Awhich will receive a Similar yoke carried by a coinpanion half' coupling. l

il. Aiiexible halt' coupling comprising a series of interlocking ring shaped Sections. a main tubular section interloekiug with (nul end of said series of ring shapedwctions, a short tube interlockingwith the oppoaite end of said series ot ring shaped wctionf, a series of' contractile springe, the oppoei. `cnds of each spring being connected lampe-- tively to said niain tubular Section and said `lshort tube, an outwardlyv extending flange Al'oriued on the 'tree end ol' ,Caid short tube. a. larger tube adapted to slide over said short tube including said langc, an inwardly extending flange formed on the end of Said larger tube, a second series' of contractile springs. the opposite ends ot" each being respectivel)v fixed toisaid inw'ardl \v and outwardly extending flanges, a ring lixcd to the free end of Said larger tube and forming a iange, a' vsmaller tube fixed to Said ring and-adapted to Slide within said short tube,

a piloting yoke protruding from said smaller tube beyond said ring` and lugs Carried 'by said ring and adapted to form a notch on each side of said yoke of auch depth and width as will receive a similar yoke carried by a companion halt' couplinfr.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

MCCLELLAN B. KRAFT. 

